Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023380 (lethargy)
 5,697 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Subacute encephalopathy developed in four patients within one to two months after undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood progenitor (stem) cell transplantation for breast cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. None of the patients had previously known neurologic disorders, central nervous tumor or infection. Two patients presented with generalized tonic, clonic seizures, and two with confusion and lethargy. In all patients lumbar puncture and CT scans of the brain were normal, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multifocal predominantly white matter lesions. Phenytoin therapy was given to the two patients with seizures and all four patients improved without specific therapeutic intervention. Repeat MRIs became normal within three months. We report a delayed and transient encephalopathy which appears to be a unique complication of high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy. The corresponding brain lesions may not be appreciated on CT scans, suggesting an expanded role for MRI studies in patients who develop neurologic findings while undergoing high-dose cytotoxic therapy.
 ...
PMID:Delayed, transient encephalopathy after marrow transplantation: case reports and MRI findings in four patients. 884 58

Phenytoin is indicated for tonic clonic seizures and status epilepticus. Phenytoin is known to deplete vital nutrients such as calcium, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin K, biotin, carnitine, copper, selenium and zinc. Depletion of nutrients is known to cause adverse effects such as ataxia, nystagmus, lethargy, slurred speech and hematological disturbances. Spirulina is a rich source of vital nutrients including iron. It is proposed to study the effect of spirulina on the hematological disturbances induced by phenytoin. Seven groups of male albino rats weighing 130-150g were used. Each group consisted of six animals. Phenytoin at a dose of 20mg/kg/day dissolved in water, spirulina 50, 100, 200 mg/kg/day suspended in 1% tween 80 alone or in combination with phenytoin was administered for 30 days. Hemoglobin content, total leucocyte and erythrocyte count were determined on 30(th) day. Phenytoin significantly decreased the hemoglobin content, total erythrocyte and leukocyte count. Spirulina did not show any effect at the lower dose of 50 and 100mg/kg and higher dose of 200mg/ kg significantly elevated hemoglobin content. Spirulina at a dose of 200mg/kg/day in combination with phenytoin reversed the phenytoin induced decrease in hemoglobin content, total erythrocyte and leukocyte count. The results of this study indicates that supplementation of phenytoin with spirulina may reverse the hematological disturbances induced by phenytoin.
 ...
PMID:Influence of spirulina on the phenytoin induced haematological changes. 2255 35